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UAE Ramadan 2027: Eid Al Fitr dates and paid holidays

On 2 September 2026, the UAE Astronomy Centre published its astronomical forecast for the key Islamic dates of 2027. According to the Centre, Ramadan 1448 AH will begin on 8 February 2027 in the Gregorian calendar. The month will last 29 or 30 days, with the final call taken by the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee. Eid Al Fitr accordingly falls on 9 or 10 March 2027, with public and private-sector paid holidays covering 9–11 March. We walk through the facts, the legal framework under the UAE Cabinet Resolution on unified holidays, and what this means for HR calendars, payroll and operational planning at UAE companies.

MS
Marsel ShadmanovCEO and Partner, Garant Business Consultancy · banking, structuring, UAE tax
5 min read
On 2 September 2026, the UAE Astronomy Centre (International Astronomical Centre, Abu Dhabi) published its astronomical forecast for the key Islamic dates of 2027. According to the Centre, Ramadan 1448 AH begins on 8 February 2027 in the Gregorian calendar; if the month lasts 29 days, Eid Al Fitr falls on 9 March, if 30 days — on 10 March. The final announcement is made by the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan, based on the physical sighting of the new crescent. Under UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 12 of 2020 unifying holidays across the public and private sectors, Eid Al Fitr is a three-day paid holiday (the first three days of Shawwal); if the crescent is not sighted on the evening of 29 Ramadan, the 30th day of Ramadan becomes an additional paid holiday linked to Eid, potentially producing a four-day weekend. Illustration to a piece explaining the event and its implications for HR, payroll and operational planning at UAE businesses.

Common questions on this topic

When does Ramadan 2027 start in the UAE according to the Astronomy Centre forecast?

According to the UAE Astronomy Centre (International Astronomical Centre, Abu Dhabi), publishing on 2 September 2026, the first day of Ramadan 1448 AH is expected on 8 February 2027 in the Gregorian calendar. This is an astronomical projection based on the calculated new moon (which occurs on the evening of 6 February 2027 UTC) and the visibility criteria for the young crescent in the UAE on the evening of 7 February. The final decision on the start of Ramadan is taken by the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee, which convenes on the evening of the 29th day of Shaaban (7 February 2027). If the crescent is physically confirmed, Ramadan begins on 8 February; if not, it shifts to 9 February. In recent years, the Astronomy Centre's forecast has matched the Committee's decision within one day.

When will Eid Al Fitr 2027 be in the UAE, and how many paid holidays will be declared?

Eid Al Fitr 2027 falls on the first days of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan. The exact date depends on the length of Ramadan: if Ramadan lasts 29 days (the more common case), the first day of Eid Al Fitr is 9 March 2027; if 30 days, it is 10 March. Under UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 12 of 2020 unifying public and private-sector holidays, Eid Al Fitr is a three-day paid holiday covering the first three days of Shawwal — that is, 9, 10 and 11 March in the first scenario or 10, 11 and 12 March in the second. An additional nuance: if the Shawwal crescent is not sighted on the evening of 29 Ramadan, the 30th day of Ramadan becomes an extra paid holiday linked to Eid, potentially producing a four-day weekend.

What does '29 or 30 days of Ramadan' mean, and why can't the date be fixed in advance?

The Islamic calendar is lunar: each month lasts 29 or 30 days, with the final duration determined by physical sighting of the young crescent (hilal) on the evening of the 29th day of the month. If the crescent is sighted, the next day becomes the first day of the new month. If not sighted (cloud cover, sun position, low crescent illumination), the current month automatically completes on the 30th day. Astronomically, the UAE Astronomy Centre can calculate the new moon to the minute, but the legal status in Muslim countries is determined by an authorised body. In the UAE, that body is the Moon-Sighting Committee, which operates under the Ministry of Justice; it convenes on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan and the result is announced the same evening via official state channels.

What should UAE HR and payroll teams do now, five months before Ramadan?

Three practical steps. First — build into the 2027 HR calendar three paid holidays for Eid Al Fitr (approximately 9–11 March or 10–12 March) plus a potential fourth day (30 Ramadan as an additional public holiday). Second — plan for a reduced working day during Ramadan (8 February to 8/9 March) for all employees. Under UAE Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on labour relations, working hours are reduced by two hours per day throughout Ramadan for all employees (not just Muslim staff), applying to both the public and private sectors. Third — align with corporate clients and counterparties on project deadlines and payment schedules to account for the shift in activity during Ramadan and the subsequent Eid break. Practical aspects of building an international team in the UAE are covered in the guide 'How to hire a multilingual team in the UAE'.

How can we ultimately confirm the Eid Al Fitr 2027 dates — and avoid mis-planning?

Final dates come through two channels. The official primary source is the UAE Cabinet: a few weeks before Ramadan, the Cabinet publishes a resolution listing all state holidays for the calendar year, including Eid Al Fitr in the expected 9–11 March 2027 window. The second channel is the Moon-Sighting Committee: the final confirmation of the first day of Shawwal (i.e., the first day of Eid Al Fitr) is released on the evening of 29 Ramadan, i.e., around 7 or 8 March 2027. For internal corporate planning, it is enough to rely on the UAE Astronomy Centre's forecast (published through the official state channel WAM and the Ministry of Justice); a possible one-day shift is then adjusted based on the Committee's decision. In employment contracts and internal HR policies, we recommend using a formula such as 'paid holidays for Eid Al Fitr as per the annual UAE Cabinet resolution' rather than fixed dates — this protects against divergence between the astronomical forecast and the actual sighting.

On 2 September 2026 the UAE Astronomy Centre published its astronomical forecast for the key Islamic dates of 2027. Under the calculation, Ramadan 1448 AH will begin on 8 February 2027, and Eid Al Fitr on 9 or 10 March; public and private-sector paid holidays cover three days, with a potential fourth. We walk through the facts, the legal framework under the UAE Cabinet Resolution, and what this means for HR, payroll and operational planning at UAE companies.

What the Astronomy Centre calculation shows

According to the UAE Astronomy Centre (International Astronomical Centre, Abu Dhabi; chaired by Ibrahim Al Jarwan), publishing through The National on 2 September 2026:

  • 1 Ramadan 1448 AH — 8 February 2027 (Gregorian calendar). Astronomically, the new moon occurs on the evening of 6 February 2027 UTC; the young crescent (hilal) should be visible in the UAE on the evening of 7 February under favourable observing conditions.
  • Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days. The final length is determined by the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan (7 March 2027).
  • Eid Al Fitr (first day of Shawwal): 9 March 2027 if Ramadan is 29 days (the more common case); 10 March if 30 days.
  • Possible 'extended weekend': if the Shawwal crescent is not sighted on the evening of 29 Ramadan, the 30th day of Ramadan automatically becomes an additional paid holiday linked to the Eid block — potentially producing a four-day weekend.

The Centre's forecast is not a decree — it is an astronomical calculation. The legal status of the date arises from the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee decision (operating under the Ministry of Justice) the same evening: around 20:00–21:00 GST, the Committee announces the outcome through official channels (WAM, state television). In recent years, the Centre's forecast and the Committee's decision have matched within one day.

Legal framework: Cabinet Resolution No. 12 of 2020

Since 2020, the UAE has unified its list of public holidays across the public and private sectors — before that, private-sector employees sometimes received fewer paid holidays than public-sector staff. Cabinet Resolution No. 12 of 2020 (UAE Cabinet) brought both sectors into a single calendar; annual confirmation of the specific dates is published by a separate Cabinet resolution, typically a few weeks before the event.

Applied to Eid Al Fitr 2027, this framework means:

  • Three paid holidays — the first three days of Shawwal (in the 29-day Ramadan scenario: 9, 10 and 11 March 2027; in the 30-day scenario: 10, 11 and 12 March).
  • The 'extra day' rule — if the Shawwal crescent is not sighted on the evening of 29 Ramadan, the 30th day of Ramadan becomes an additional paid holiday. The holiday block can therefore run four calendar days in a row.
  • Reduced working hours during Ramadan — under UAE Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on labour relations, working hours are reduced by two hours per day throughout Ramadan for all employees (not just Muslim staff), applying to both the public and private sectors. This rule operates independently of the Committee's announcement.

The Cabinet resolution deliberately anchors the framework to the lunar calendar rather than fixed Gregorian dates: the specific dates in March 2027 will be confirmed by a separate resolution closer to the event.

How the final day is announced — the procedure

The procedure for announcing UAE holidays is well established and predictable:

  1. Evening of 29 Ramadan (around 7 March 2027) — the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee convenes after sunset. Observation takes place at several sites across the country, including the astronomical observatory at Al Khatm (Abu Dhabi), and is supported by astronomical calculations. Testimony is accepted from qualified observers.
  2. The result is announced the same evening, typically around 20:00–21:00 GST, through WAM, state television and the official u.ae portal.
  3. Cabinet publishes its resolution — a few weeks before Ramadan, the UAE Cabinet publishes official holiday dates for the year, including Eid Al Fitr in the expected 9–11 March 2027 window.
  4. Final confirmation — a combination of the two channels: the Cabinet-announced date +/- one day per the Committee's decision.

What this means for business and HR — four practical takeaways

1. Build the 2027 HR calendar now. Insert into the corporate calendar for March 2027 a block of three paid holidays (either 9–11 March or 10–12 March, depending on the scenario) plus a potential fourth day (30 Ramadan as an additional public holiday). The internal HR policy wording should be 'paid holidays for Eid Al Fitr as per the annual UAE Cabinet resolution' rather than fixed dates. This protects against divergence between the astronomical forecast and the actual sighting.

2. Reduced working hours during Ramadan. From 8 February to 8–9 March 2027 — working hours reduced by two hours per day for all employees under the UAE Federal Decree Law on labour relations. This applies to both public and private companies regardless of the religious affiliation of staff. Companies with international teams should factor this into production schedules and client meeting calendars. Practical aspects of working with a multinational UAE team are covered in 'How to hire a multilingual team in the UAE'.

3. Client and payment deadlines. Account for the shift in UAE business activity during Ramadan: meetings tend to run in the afternoon and evening, banks and government services operate on shorter hours. Add the 3–4-day Eid Al Fitr block in March. For payments and reporting cycle closes, plan deadlines either before 5 February or after 15 March — otherwise there is a risk of falling into a slowdown window.

4. The annual confirmation cycle. A separate Cabinet resolution with the final list of 2027 holidays is typically published in December 2026 – January 2027. The one-day final shift is adjusted based on the Moon-Sighting Committee's decision on the evening of 7 or 8 March 2027. For broader context on UAE business regulation in 2026 — see 'UAE business regulation 2026'.

Planning checklist

  • Enter into the 2027 HR calendar tentative Eid Al Fitr holidays — 9–11 March (or 10–12 March) plus a possible fourth day; confirm in December 2026 through the official Cabinet resolution.
  • Prepare an internal policy for reduced working hours during Ramadan (two-hour reduction) from 8 February to 8–9 March 2027.
  • Adjust business planning — move critical payments and deadlines outside the 5 February to 15 March 2027 window where feasible.
  • Align with international counterparties on meeting and signing schedules, factoring in reduced hours and the holiday block.
  • Track official announcements from the UAE Cabinet (u.ae, WAM) and the Moon-Sighting Committee — final confirmation will come on the evening of 29 Ramadan.
Topics:UAERamadan 2027Eid Al FitrUAE public holidaysHRBusiness planningUAE CabinetLabour law

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